At 17, Hannah Cairo Solved a Major Math Mystery

9 months ago

Hannah Cairo, a 17-year-old homeschooled student from the Bahamas, solved the 40-year-old Mizohata-Takeuchi conjecture in mathematics.
Cairo's proof showed the conjecture to be false, defying mathematicians' expectations and altering the landscape of harmonic analysis.
She was largely self-taught, using online resources and graduate-level textbooks, and later participated in advanced math programs like the Berkeley Math Circle.
Cairo's work has significant implications for harmonic analysis, including disproving Stein's conjecture, which was thought to connect key questions in the field.
Despite her achievements, Cairo faced challenges in gaining admission to graduate programs due to her lack of formal education credentials, but she will start a PhD at the University of Maryland.

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